Ventilators for inflatable buildings



May 23, 1967 B. R. A. REFFELL VENTILATORS FOR INFLATABLE BUILDINGS 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 11, 1965 May 23, 1967 B. R. A. REFFELL 3,

VENTILATORS FOR INFLATABLE BUILDINGS 2 Sheets-Sheet Fig. 5. 35

F1 led March 11, 1965 Fig. 4.

United States Patent 3,320,870 VENTILATORE FOR INFLATABLE BUILDINGSBrian Richard Arnold Rellell, Southall, Middlesex, England, assignor toSpecialties Development Corporation, Belleville, N..I., a corporation ofNew Jersey Filed Mar. 11, 1965, Ser. No. 438,906 Claims priority,application Great Britain, Mar. 13, 1964, 10,857/64 Claims. (CI. 98-41)This invention relates to ventilators.

According to the invention there is provided a ventilator comprising afirst ventilator part having a number of ventilator orificestherethrough, a second ventilator part rotatably mounted relative to thefirst ventilator part between first and second positions, lift means onone of the ventilator parts to lift at least a portion of the secondventilator part away from the first ventilator part into a spacedposition when the second ventilator part is in its first position and toallow the said portion to return to a close position when the secondventilator part is in the second position, and co-operating sealingmeans on the first and second ventilator parts to seal the ventilatorwhen the second ventilator is in the close position and to be open whenthe second ventilator is in the open position.

Preferably the second ventilator part is provided with projections whichenter the ventilator orifices when the second ventilator part is in theclose position. The projections preferably co-operate with the orificesto form the said sealing means. Additionally or alternatively one of theventilator parts, preferably the first ventilator part, is provided withan outwardly flanged rim which extends towards and underlies the otherventilator part and the rim seals against the other ventilator part,conveniently with a sealing pad interposed between them.

The sides of the projections, which are preferably frusto-co'nical inshape, preferably form cam surfaces which co-operate with the edges ofthe ventilator orifices to form the lift means.

Conveniently, spring means is provided to bias the second ventilatorpart towards the close position. Alternatively the second ventilatorpart is relatively flexible so that the said portion thereof flexes intosaid open position when the second ventilator part is in the said firstposition.

A number of embodiments of the invention will now he described, by wayof example, with reference to the accompanying drawings. In thedrawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front view of a ventilator constructed in accordance withthe invention,

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 22 of FIGURE 1 showingthe ventilator in the closed condition,

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the ventilator shown in FIGURE 1 but in theopen condition,

FIGURE 4 is a front view of a modified ventilator in accordance with theinvention,

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIGURE 4 showingthe ventilator in the open condition, and

FIGURE 6 is a sectional detail view similar to FIG- URE 5 of a furthermodified ventilator shown in the closed position.

Referring first to FIGURES 1 to 3, there is shown a ventilator which maybe provided in the side of a building to enable a ventilating air streamto pass theret'hrough as desired. The ventilator comprises a stationarypart 10 and a rotatable part 11 attached together by means of a pivotmember in the form of a screw or bolt 12.'

The parts 10 and 11 are moulded from sheet plastic material, which isresilient but fairly stiff. There are three orifices 13 of equaldiameter in the stationary part 10 "ice and these orifices aresymmetrically positioned about the pivot member. The rotatable part hasthree projecting formations 14 each of which is in the shape of ashallow, truncated cone having a base diameter substantially equal tothe diameter of one of the orifices 13 and the projecting formations areadapted to register with the orifices respectively. In the positionshown in FIGURES 1 and 2, in which the projections 14 are in registerwith the apertures 13, the surrounding peripheral portion 15 of therotatable part 11 lies close to or against an outwardly projectingflange 16 formed on a peripheral run 10a of the part 10. In thisposition the ventilator can be said to be closed because air flowtherethrough is completely stopped, either by the formations 14 whichclose the apertures 13 or between the peripheral portion 15 and theflange 16. According to choice the design of the ventilator may be suchthat either of these restrictions may be used to close the ventilator orboth these restrictions may be used.

When the rotatable part 11 is rotated away from the position shown inFIGURES 1 and 2, the conical surface of each projecting formation 14exerts a camming action on the edge of the respective orifice 13. Theprojecting formations 14 are thus moved clear of the associatedorifices. Further, because of the resilience of the rotatable part 11,its surrounding peripheral portion 15 is deflected away from the flange16 on the stationary part 10. In the condition when the rotatable parthas been rotated through approximately 60 in either direction from theposition shown in FIGURES l and 2, the orifices 13 are no longer closedby the projecting formations 14 and the peripheral portion 15 is spacedapart from the flange 16 so that air can pass through the venti laterwhich can then be said to be open.

It can be seen that the resilience of the rotatable part 11 enables itto be distorted in the open position. 'It is convenient that thestationary part 10 should be made from the same material as therotatable part 11 and this provides similar resilience in the part 10.Therefore, in the open position the central area of the stationary part10 is distorted and pulled towards the rotatable part 11 by tension inthe screw 12. In the closed position the resilience of the rotatablepart 11 urges its sealing parts into engagement to prevent air flowtherethrough.

The screw 12 is provided with a nut. and washer and after assembly isriveted over. The two parts 10 and 11 may be vacuum formed and theorifices 13 cut subsequently from the stationary part 10. As shown at17, more particularly in FIGURE 2, the rotatable part is slightly neckedso as to strengthen this part at the areas of minimum space between theformations 14.

Referring now to FIGURES 4 and 5, there is shown an alternative form ofventilator 21. This ventilator also comprises a fixed part 22 and arotatable part 23. These parts 21 and 22 are generally of the same shapeand construction as the parts 10 and 11 but are made from a slightlymore rigid material. The rotatable part 23 is of approximately the samediameter as the inside of the rim 241 of the fixed part 22 so as to forma. continuation of the flange 25. Channels 26 join the projectingformations 26 so as to make the part 23 more rigid.

The two parts 21 and 22 are connected together by a central bolt 27which passes through a boss 28 formed between the channels 2 6 in therotatable part 23. At the end of the bolt 27 there is secured a nut 29and a washer 32 on the boss 28 and biasses the rotatable part 23 towardsthe fixed part 22. A collar 33 surrounds the bolt 27 between the twoparts 22 and 23 to act as a spacer between these two parts so as toprevent distortion of the rotatable part 23 by the spring 31.

In the closed position, the projecting formations 26 seat in theorifices 34 of the fixed part 21 to provide a seal therewith. Onrotation of the rotatable part 22, the projecting formations 26 lift outof the orifices 34 because of the camming effect of the frusto-conicalsides of the projecting formations 26 on the edges of the orifices 34.In the open position of the ventilator the projecting formations 26 reston the portions of the fixed parts between the orifices 34. On further,or return, rotation, the projecting formations 26 snap back into theorifices 34 under the influence of the spring 31 and their sides sealagainst the edges of the orifices 34 to prevent air flow therethrough.

In a modified form of the ventilator 21, as shown in FIGURE 6, therotatable member 23a is of larger diameter than the rim 24 of the fixedmember 22 and has a portion 23b overlying the flange 25. This portion23b carries a sealing pad 35 so as to seal against the flange 25 whenthe ventilator is in the closed position. This seal may be provided inaddition to the sealing between the projecting formations and orificesor may be the sole sealing means. In the latter case the projectingformations may be somewhat smaller than the orifices and fit looselytherein so as to act merely as a lifting means. If desired the pad 35may be omitted and the portion 2317 may seal directly on the flange 25.

The ventilators above described are of simple and light construction andare suitable for incorporation in an inflatable building, for example abuilding which is supported by a structure of inflated tubes.

The ventilator 21 is fixed in position in the canvas or like cover of aninflatable building in the following manner. At each location where itis desired to insert the ventilator 21 the building cover 36 is providedwith a circular opening 37 having a diameter suificient to receive thedished portion of the stationary part 22 but of lesser diameter than theflange 25. This opening 37 is reinforced by a peripheral sewn-in cable38. An annular draw-sheet 39 surrounds the opening on the inner sur faceof the cover and forms with the cover a recess for the edge of theflange 25.

When the building is unpacked and ready for erection, the draw sheet 39is loosened and the dished part is inserted into the opening '37. Thedraw sheet 39 is manipulated over the flange 25 and tightened, e.g., bya rope 41. The ventilator is now in position ready for the erection ofthe building. The ventilator is removed in the reverse manner after theinflatable building is deflated and ready for packing. The fixing andremoval of the ventilator of b the first embodiment is carried out inthe same manner. By removing the ventilator before packing, both theventilator and the cover are protected against damage when the buildingis packed.

I claim:

1. A ventilator comprising a stationary part having a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced apertures therein, a rotatable part on saidstationary part and having as many circumferentially spaced projectionsthereon as there are apertures which projections register with andextend in o said apertures when said parts are in a first position, andcentrally located means for rotatably mounting said rotatable part onsaid stationary part, said projections having a cam surface on the sidethereof for engaging a portion.

of said stationary part between said apertures to lift said projectionsout of said apertures upon rotation of said rotatably mounted part to asecond position, said parts being constructed and arranged to yield withrespect to each other when in the second position, said parts havingcooperating annular sealing surface means adapted to engage and form aseal when said rotatably mounted part is in the first position.

2. A ventilator according to claim 1, wherein said projections areconstructed and arranged to cooperate with said apertures to seal thesame.

3. A ventilator according to claim 1, wherein a sealing pad is mountedon one of said sealing surfaces.

4. A ventilator according to claim 1, wherein said parts are constructedof yieldable material to enable said projections to be moved out of saidapertures.

5. A ventilator according to claim 1, wherein said mounting meansincludes spring means for biasing said rotatable part in a direction tocause said projections to enter said apertures.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,436,649 11/1922Clark 9841 2,235,731 3/1941 Spalding 98---41 2,996,138 8/1961 Schwartzet a1. 984O 3,013,483 12/1961 Knight 9837 3,260,188 7/1966 Person 98-41ROBERT A. OLEARY, Primary Examiner.

W. E. WAYNER, Assistant Examiner. V I i

1. A VENTILATOR COMPRISING A STATIONARY PART HAVING A PLURALITY OFCIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED APERTURES THEREIN, A ROTATABLE PART ON SAIDSTATIONARY PART AND HAVING AS MANY CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED PROJECTIONSTHEREON AS THERE ARE APERTURES WHICH PROJECTIONS REGISTER WITH ANDEXTEND INTO SAID APERTURES WHEN SAID PARTS ARE IN A FIRST POSITION, ANDCENTRALLY LOCATED MEANS FOR ROTATABLY MOUNTING SAID ROTATABLE PART ONSAID STATIONARY PART, SAID PROJECTIONS HAVING A CAM SURFACE ON THE SIDETHEREOF FOR ENGAGING A PORTION OF SAID STATIONARY PART BETWEEN SAIDAPERTURES TO LIFT SAID PROJECTIONS OUT OF SAID APERTURES UPON ROTATIONOF SAID ROTATABLY MOUNTED PART TO A SECOND POSITION, SAID PARTS BEINGCONSTRUCTED AND ARRANGED TO YIELD WITH RESPECT TO EACH OTHER WHEN IN THESECOND POSITION, SAID PARTS HAVING COOPERATING ANNULAR SEALING SURFACEMEANS ADAPTED TO ENGAGE AND FORM A SEAL WHEN SAID ROTATABLY MOUNTED PARTIS IN THE FIRST POSITION.